Some and Any: The Grammar Gameshow Episode 8

Hello, and welcome to today’s Grammar Gameshow!

I’m your host, Will!

– but,

I don’t offer to help!

And of course, let’s not forget Leslie,

our all-knowing voice in the sky.

Hello everyone!

Tonight we’re going to be asking

three questions about…

Some and any!

Those two confusing words that

belong to a group called quantifiers.

OK! Now, let’s meet our contestants!

Hi, everyone. I’m Nick!

And contestant number two.

Hello, everyone. I’m Helen!

Welcome back Helen!

Ok, let’s get going and don’t forget

you can play along at home too.

Our first round is a quick-fire round.

Listen to these sentences,

and tell me if the missing word is ‘some’

or ‘any’.

I need to buy … milk.

Some!

Correct!

Did you have … trouble?

Any!

Correct!

There isn’t … time.

Any!

Correct!

I want … peace and quiet.

Some!

Correct!

Would you like … coffee?

Any!

Wrong!

Oh dear, Nick.

That last one should have been ‘some’.

If you can tell me why,

I’ll give you a point.

It should be ‘any’. It’s a question.

We use ‘any’ in a question

Well observed, but not right I’m afraid.

Helen, would you like to have a go?

Something about requests, right?

Can you give me any more?

Of course!

Will £50 do?

Nicely!

Leslie?

Well done, Helen!

We usually use ‘some’ in affirmative sentences,

and ‘any’ in questions and negatives.

However,

if the question is a request,

or an offer to help,

we also use ‘some’.

Well done Helen!

I’ll expect the money in my account

later today.

30 points for you!

Ok - on to our second round.

In question one,

we established that ‘some’ was used in

affirmative sentences,

and ‘any’ in questions and negatives.

Look at these three affirmative sentences

and tell me why we can use ‘any’.

a) There’s hardly any food left.

b) He never has any money.

c) They split up without any argument.

It’s because…

I don’t know. I’m so stupid!

Come on, Nick.

Don’t be so...

negative.

What?

I said…

don’t be so

Will: negative! Nick: Negative, yes!

The structure of the sentence is positive,

but the meanings are negative because of the words.

Leslie?

Very good Nick.

As you said,

the structures of the sentences are affirmative,

but they all contain words that have a negative

or limiting meaning.

In this case: hardly, never and without.

This makes the sentences negative,

so we can use ‘any’.

Ten points for you. See?

Try to have a little more confidence in yourself, eh?

I mean, it's no fun undermining you

if you’re already feeling useless.

On to our third, and final question.

Why is it necessary to use ‘some of’ and ‘any of’

in these two sentences?

I didn’t know any of the people there.

I think some of your friends are here.

This one’s easy!

It’s because they contain the words ‘here’ and ‘there’.

Nope!

Totally wrong.

Wow, you really messed that one up.

Helen?

Well…maybe it’s because

‘some’ and ‘any’ have another word after them

before the noun?

Now, you’re cooking Helen!

Leslie?

Well done again.

When ‘some’ or ‘any’ are followed by a determiner,

such as an article or possessive,

we use ‘some of’ or ‘any of’.

Good thinking Helen!

Six and a half points for you.

And that brings us to the end of today’s

Grammar Gameshow.

Let’s count out the points.

And the winner is…

Nick!

Well done Nick!

Just kidding!

Helen won!

Well done Helen!

Here’s what you’ve won!

It’s a flip-flop!

Well, Nick,

it looks like this is the end.

Try to have a little more confidence, eh?

Do you have anything to say?

Please don’t drop me in the pit!

I have a wife and two kids!

I’ll think about it…

No deal.

Set loose the crickets!

It looks like we’ll need another contestant.

Thanks for joining us.

Say goodbye, Leslie.

Goodbye Leslie

See you next time.